Lent/Easter 2006

• C is for Crusader
  Frederick A. Niedner, one of Valparaiso University's finest professors and chair of the Department of Theology, is the "crusader" I have in mind. "Crusaders" is also the name of Valpo's athletic logo, and Fred, no doubt, on more than one occasion, may be found among the crowd's cheering section at some of their events. This is evident also in Fred's sermon below, where he found a way to connect Jesus' beatitude on those who are blessed "when folks revile you and persecute you and utter all manner of evil and falsehood about you" to the officials at their basketball games. See if Fred's phrasing of this does not elicit from you, as it did from those of us who first heard it preached, a delightful roar of laughter.

• R is for R is for R-words (words for Lent)
  Whatever peculiar happiness they have, Ed has had his share of it, too, for Ed is one of those who still uses the R-word when trouble comes and our hearts and minds crave revenge, retaliation, and retribution, when only repentance would cure what ails us. We seldom want to hear that whistle blow in the midst of our cheering and screaming. Ah, but the reviling didn't begin with reactions to felled towers and middle-east wars. Three decades later, I can still hear the echoes and epithets from Egypt's fleshpots: "Gospel reductionist! Bible-doubter!" ...

• O is for "O is for "open tomb," "open living"(words for Easter)
  So for now, Christ has our death. We have his life. Which allows us, if you'll permit me to switch gospel stories for just a moment, to live in that strangely comic scene at the end of Luke's passion narrative when the crucified guys out there on Golgotha strike up a conversation about their future plans. Think of the soldiers listening to this: "Hey you, with that 'king' sign above your head, remember me with some kind of job when you come into your power." ...

• S-S is for S-S is for "So, Schroeder," what do you have to say?
  Since this is our last tribute to this year-long celebration of the Crossings Community, here's what Ed has responded in two of his Thursday Theologies (you can read the whole texts on-line). Still dying and rising in the promise of his baptism, Ed still has a way with words, and the Word: ...

• I-N-G-S is for I-N-G-S is for In Next [year's] Gospel Stories
  The Crossings Community is always looking for good gospel stories, even those emanating from the slices-of-life of people like you, our readers. If you are willing, we are able and eager to hear from you, even interview you about your life and ministry. ...